Exporting Toque monkeys Agri Minister to submit Cabinet paper next week to study proposal

•  Ministry statement says these animals cause huge damage to agricultural crops  

By Kelum Bandara and Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera who briefed the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday about the proposal to send Toque monkeys to the zoos in China said he would submit a Cabinet paper next week to appoint a committee to see the feasibility of implementing it.  

 The Minister told Daily Mirror yesterday that only a private entity in China submitted a proposal in this regard.  

 “There is no involvement of the Chinese government. It is a proposal from a private party,” he said .  

 He said he would submit the Cabinet paper next Monday seeking approval to appoint a committee comprising officials from the Agriculture, Wildlife, Plantation and Justice Ministries to study the proposal .  

 “If the proposal is viable, 100,000 monkeys will be sent in stages. It is not to send such a large number at once ,” he said.  

  Earlier, the Ministry, quoting a research paper worked out by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, said the population of five species of wild animals including Toque monkeys had increased. The Ministry statement said these animals cause huge damage to agricultural crops.